deCycles Pacific Mountains 2010
Journal Entry
Date: June 28
Day 16: Monday
Departure: Mariposa, CA
Arrival: Fresno, CA

Distance: 73 miles
Highlights: Descent into California Central Valley and farmland.
Description: The sendoff from Mariposa was memorable. A couple in their 80’s shared their cross-country bicycling experience from 20-years ago. Ginger Foster the minister extended her deep appreciation for our presence and sent us off with prayers of protection. We escorted out of town and within 4-miles, a rider veered off the road into a ditch. Nicole Scott was thrown off the bike and did a body slam against the embankment and a nearby boulder. She required immediate attention and an ambulance run to the hospital for testing and observation. This accident did not involve any motor vehicles or any other riders. Apparently she lost control trying to divert a pothole in the road. Because of the type of possible injury, she was being held in the hospital to stabilize her condition. There were no fractures or marks on her body with the exception of a few scratches on her face. Scans revealed a small brain contusion and very little leakage. So for now, we think she’s going to be OK, but needs to undergo further evaluation and observation. Nicole’s mom Cheryl flew out to be with her. Reflecting back on the day, everyone stepped up to get through this challenge…..especially the minister from the overnight church in Mariposa. Ginger Foster was our guardian angel for the day and to list all the things she did to facilitate our group would take pages and pages. Many thanks to this world-class individual.

The drama today overshadowed all other events today. It was a good day of cycling in the central valley of CA. This is one of the world’s richest farmland and it is FLAT! So the riders arrived in Fresno pretty early with temps reaching 101-degrees. Now we are in for the hot part of the trip….just the opposite of the first week. This is truly one of the most diverse cycling trips in deCycles history. Now it’s on to Visalia and we need to maintain our focus. The destination is getting closer.
Climate: Clear, sunny, hot all day. 101-degrees.
Overnight: Fresno Church of the Nazarene